Electrical fixture



March 14, 1950 H. HUBBELL. Erm. l 2,500,181

ELECTRICAL FIXTURE Filed oct. 21, 194e 2 sheets-sheet 1 A a :i 50,

'rfi `r 6 March I4, 1950 H. HUBBELL ETAL 2,500,181

EpEcTRIcAL FIXTURE Filed oct. 21, 194e Y l l 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Mar. 14, 1950 ELECTRICAL FIXTURE Harvey Hubbell, Long Hill, and Joseph F. Healy, Westport, Conn., assignors to Harvey Hubbell, Incorporated, Bridgeport, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application October 2.1, 1946, Serial No. 704,778

8 Claims. (Cl. 173-324) This invention relates to an electrical switch, and more particularly to a toggle switch oi' the type used in controlling lighting or other circuits in homes, oiilces and the like. In switches of this type now commonly in use, the parts of the switch are assembled in a base or body portion and are then held in place by securing a bridge member and cover in place over the base portion. Thus the switch is not operable until after it is completely enclosed, which causes diiculty in inspection and frequently results in errors in adjustment during manufacture,

An object of our invention is to provide a switch which is completely assembled in the top or upper portion of a switch body, that is, all parts or the complete switch assembly is contained in the (upper or outer) main insulating frame, making it possible to assemble and operate the switch when the bottom or inner section or portion of the body is removed,4 to facilitate assembly and so that the operation of the switch may be observed and accurate adjustments and inspection made possible during and after manufacture.

It has for a further object a simpler, easier installing means for securing lead wires to the switch by eliminating the necessity of winding the wire leads of a connecting cable around the switch binding screws when installing the switch.

It has for an additional object to provide an improved arrangement and mounting for the switch and lead or conductor connecting means.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, we have devised the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification. It is. however, to be understood the invention is not limited to the specific details of construction and arrangement shown, but may embody various changes and modifications within the scope of the invention.

In the drawings:

` Fig. 1 is a top view of the device; I

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section taken substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section taken substantially on line 3--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 isan enlarged view from the bottom with the bottom or cover section of the body removed;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged partial section with the bottom portion removed, taken substantially on the plane of line 6-8, Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a side view of one of the contacts;

Fig. 8 is a top View of one of the contacts, and

Fig. 9 is a side view of another form of contact which may be used.

I'he device comprises an insulating body including a top or outer body member orv section I0 and a bottom or inner cover orbody member or section II composed of moldable plastic or other suitable insulating material. The body members I0 and I I are secured together by means of screws I2 which screw into tapped holes I3 in a bridge plate Il provided with suitable mounting lugs Ila. The body sections I0 and II enclose a chamber or compartment in which the switch elements are mounted. This compartment comprises a central portion 9 and two lateral portions -8 between which and the central portion 9 are the integral walls 1. All three portions 8 and 9 open through the bottom or inner wall of section I0.

A handle I5, preferably oi molded insulating material, is supported by means of pivots I6 which rest in suitable recesses I1 in the top portion of the member I0. The handle I5 is held in the recesses I 1 by means of transverse grooves I8 in the under side of connecting'side members I8a of the bridge I4. Molded into the handle I5 is an actuating arm I9 which projects downwardly from the handle I5 into a recess or compartment in the top portion I0 and the bottom portion Il. A swing arm oryyoke 2li comprises a substantially U-shaped member with lugs 2l which rest in the bottom of slots 22 in the top portion I0 and walls 1 at the bottom of the recesses I1. By thus mounting the parts in the top member I0 the usual metal frame for holding the toggle and handle isl eliminated. Movements of the handle in opposite directions are limited by side extensions I5a engaging stop shoulders Illa in the member I0. A metal insertl 23 in each wall 1 at the bottom of the slot 22 provides a suitable bearing on which the lugs-2 I may move. l A spring 2| rests on the cross piece 25 oi the swing arm 20 and is held in place by means of a lug 2Bv projecting upwardly from the cross piece 25.

The spring 24 is compressed and held in position by the activating arm I9 which is inserted in the cap 21 provided with -a recess seating over the.

upper end of the spring 2l. It is thus clear that as the handle I5 is moved back and forth about its pivot or trunnion I6, the swing arm 20 is caused to move back and forth about its pivots 2| with a snap action by the toggle action of the lever and spring. Movements of the member 20 are limited by stop shoulders 20a (Fig. 6).

Projecting from the lugs 2| of the swing arm 20 are lugs 28 which support insulating pieces 29 composed of Micarta or other suitable insulating material by means of slots 3l inthe insulating pieces 23. A rivet 3| composed of copper or other suitable electrically conducting material is placed through the insulating piece 23 with its heads projecting from the opposite sides thereof. The swing arm 20 thus in moving back and forth causes the insulating piece 23 to move up and down, in turn causing the rivet 3| to move from its downward or lower position, as shown in Fig. 2, upward to a position between and engaging the contacts 32 and 33 and electrically connect or bridge these contacts. The contact 32 is connected to terminal 34 by being riveted to a lug 35, as at 36, and comprises a spring contact composed of suitable electrical conducting material. and is turned outwardly, as at 31, so that the rivet or movable contact 3| may engage the contact 32 without binding. Contact 32 is bent as at 38 so as to clear the ends of member 20 and increase a spring action which holds it securely against the movable contact 3|. The contact 33 is a lug 39 or extension which is a portion of the terminal 40 and is inserted in the top portion U) so that it faces the contact 32. The terminals 34 and 40 are mounted in recesses 34a and 40a opening through the lower side of the upper body member I0, and may be inserted in the recesses through these openings. The contact 33 is provided with a. small nib 4| which provides a recess 4|a in which the movable contact 3l seats when the movable contact 3| is in a position between the contacts 32 and 33. The purpose of the recess 4|a, as well as the spring contacts 32.`is to provide a,good electrical conducting means arid also to hold or retard the contacts slightly so as to improve the snap action when the handle is operated, to insure that the contact 3| moves out of contact with the contacts 32 and 33 quickly, to cause a duick make and break to eliminate arcing and burning of the contacts.

The terminal 40 and also terminal 34 comprises a substantially U-shaped member with side legs 42 (Figs. 7 and 8) connected by a cross piece 43 from one edge of which i5 a downwardly projectine,r lip 44. From one edge oi' the lip 44 is formed the lug or contact 33 heretofore described. The terminal 40 is inserted in a suitable recess 40a in the top portion I and rests (as does also the terminal 34) on the top of the bottom portion i as the recesses 34a and 40 open through the inner or bottom wall of section l0 for easv insertion of the terminals. The stripped end 46 of a wire lead 46a (Fig. 2) is held to the. terminal bv being inserted in a hole 41 through the bottom portion Il. The wire 4B extends into thA terminal 40 at one side of the downwardly extending lip 44 and is clamped there bv means of the binding screw 48, which is inserted in the tapped hole 49 in the cross member 43. and presses against and operates a clamping plate H. 'Phe binding screw which is exposed and accessible for operation at the top oi member in when moved downwardlv forces the clamp or pimted plate 50 so that the forward edge 5| of this plate binds or clamps against, and also may bite slightlv into. the wire 46. clamping and holdin'Y it securelv against the wall 44 and within the tei-- mina] and providing a good electrical connection. The edge 5| may be curved, as shown in Fig. 4 to provide a lug Sla to retain the wire 46 and prevent its moving laterally oil' the wall 44. The plate 5|i is pivotally held within the terminal lli bv means of projecting pivot lugs 52 on, opposite edges of this plate which seat in holes 53 in the the terminal 40.

legs 42, or which may be held by means of being inserted in recesses 54, Fig. 9. If the pivoted plate is held as indicated in Fig. 9, the lugs 52 are held within the recesses I4 by resting against the top of the bottom portion |I. y The terminal 34 is constructed in exactly the same manner as However, the lug 35, which corresponds with lug 33, is not a contact in itself, but provides a support for the contact 32, as heretofore described.

It is to be noted that if desired, the wire 46 may be wound about the terminal screw 48 under its head and held against the terminal 40 by being clamped between the head 55 of the binding screw 43 and the top wall 43. However, it is of course simpler and therefore preferable to use the new wire clamping means which has been described. To remove the wire from the switch the binding screw is unscrewed or retracted so it is moved upwardly to relieve the pressure on the clamping plate 50, and the wire 46 may then be withdrawn. As the switch shown is a double pole or two-way switch, the four conductors. or wires in each side of the circuit. are connected to a pair of terminals 34 and 40. It will be "nderstood, however. that the device is not limited to this arrangement, but lends itself `to three wav and four way switch constructions very readily.

It is clear. then that we have devised a switch which may be completely assembled in the top portion I0 of the switch and may be operated when the bottom portion is removed. Thus. during manufacture, it is possible to observe the operation of the switch and thus make accurate adjustments. Also, by mounting the parts or assembly in the top portion l0, the usual metal frame for holding the toggle and operating handle is eliminated. It is also clear that to install the device it is only necessary to insert the wires into the holes 41 in the bottom portion Il. then. while a wire 46 is inserted, to turn down the binding screw 48. This means of Wiring thus eliminates the necessity of looping the wire 46 around the binding screw, and thus also eliminates the possibility oi' a free end grounding against nearby elements.

Having thus set forth the nature of our invention, we claim:

1. An electrical fixture comprising an insulating body including outer and inner portions forming a chamber, stationary electrical contacts mounted in the outer portion, said outer portion being provided with recesses opening through the inner wall thereof, terminals mounted in said recesses connected with the stationary contacts, said terminals each comprising a substantially U-shaped body including spaced side walls and a connecting top wall, a third side wall, a clamping plate pivoted to the first side walls I0 and provided with a free edge spaced from the pivot arranged to move toward the third wall to clamp a conductor wire against this third side wall, a binding screw threaded in the top wall and adapted to engage the plate at its inner end to swing the plate about its pivot to clamp a conductor between the free edge of the plate and the third wall, and means for detachably securing the inner portion of the body to the outer portion over said recesses to retain the terminals in the recesses. l

2. An electrical xture comprising an insulating body, stationary contacts mounted in said body, terminals mounted in the body and connected with the stationary contacts, said terminals each comprising a substantially U-shaped body including spaced side walls and a connecting top wall, a third transverse wall between the side walls, a clamping plate pivoted to and between the side walls and arranged with its free edge adjacent the third wall to clamp a wire conductor against said wall, and a clamping screw in the top wall with its inner end arranged to press against the plate to clamp the conductor between its free edge and `said third wall.

3. An electrical xture comprising an insulating body, contacts mounted in the body, terminals mounted in the body and each connected with a contact, each terminal comprising a substantially U-shaped body member including spaced side walls and a connecting top wall, a transverse binding wall, a binding plate pivoted adjacent one edge between the side walls and arranged with its opposite free edge adjacent the binding wall to clamp a conductor wire between this edge and the wall, and a binding screw threaded in the top wall and arranged for its inner end to engage said plate to swing it about its pivot to clamp the conductor between the free edge and said wall.

4. An electrical iixture comprising an insulating body including inner and outer sections, means for detachably connecting the sections together, contacts mounted in the outer section, terminals mounted in the outer section each connected with a contact, said inner section being provided with openings therein leading to the terminals, each terminal including an up- 6 said outer section being provided with recesses opening through its inner wall, terminals mountright clamping wall and a pivoted clamping plate provided with a free edge adjacent and movable toward and from the clamping wall arranged to clamp a conductor wire in the opening leading to the terminal to the clamping wall, said terminal also including a eros wall at the outer edge of the clamping wall and in alignment with the opening in the inner section leading to the terminal and forming a limit stop for a conductor wire inserted in said opening, and a binding screw threaded in the cross wall arranged to engage the plate at its inner end to swing it about its pivot to clamp the wire between the free edge of the plate and the clamping wall.

5. An electrical iixture comprising an insulating body including inner and outer sections, means for detachably connecting the sections together, contacts mounted in the outer section, terminals mounted in the outer section each connected with a contact, said inner section being provided with openings therein leading to the terminals, each terminal including a pair of spaced side walls and a connecting top wall, a clamping wall extending transversely of the side walls and located substantially in alignment with the opening in the inner body section leading to said terminal, a clamping plate pivoted between the side walls and provided with a free edge adjacent and movable toward and from the clamping wall to clamp a lead wire in the aligned opening against said wall, and a binding screw in the top wall arranged to engage the plate to swing it about its pivot and clamp the conductor between the free edge and the clamping wall.

6. An electrical fixture comprising an insulating body including inner and outer sections, means for detachably connecting the sections together, contacts mounted in the outer section.

ed one in leach recess and each connected lwith a contact, said inner section being provided with an opening for a lconductor wire leading to each terminal, each treminal comprising an upright clamping wall and a cross wall at the top edge of the clamping wall, a pivoted clamping plate provided with a free edge adjacent said clamping wall to clamp the conductor in said opening against this wall, said cross wall being in alignment with the opening leading to the terminal to limit insertion of a conductor in this opening, and a binding screw in the cross wall of each terminal arranged to clamp the plate against the conductor and accessible for operation at the outer wall of the outer section.

7. A terminal forv an electrical iixture comprising a metal body member including an upright clamping wall and a cross wall at the top edge of the clamping wall forming a limit stop for a conductor wire positioned against the clamping wall, means whereby the body may be connected with an electrical contact, a clamping plate below the cross wall pivoted in the body adjacent one of its edges spaced from the clamping wall and provided with a free edge adjacent said wall arranged to clamp a conductor wire against the clamping wall as it moves toward a position at substantially right angles to this wall, and a binding screw threaded in the top wall arranged to engage the plate to swing it toward said latter position to clamp the conductor between its free edge and said clamping wall.

8. A terminal for an electrical fixture comprising a substantially U-shaped body member including spaced side members and a connecting top member, means whereby the body may be connected with an electrical contact, a transverse binding wall between the side members, a clamping plate pivoted adjacent one edge between the side walls and provided with a iree edge adjacent the binding wall to clamp a conductor wire between this edge and the wall, and a binding screw in the top member arranged for its inner end to engage the plate to clamp the conductor between its free edge and said wall.

HARVEY HUBBELL. JOSEPH F. HEALY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 895,714 Babcock Aug. 1l, 1908 1,625,485 Maurer Apr, 19, 1927 1,685,500 Meuer Sept. 25, 1928 1,928,638 Avery Oct. 3, 1933 1,950,826 Smart Mar. 13, 1934 2,283,509 Peterson May 19, 1942 2,287,035 Hubbell et al June 23, 1942 2,383,546 Hallander Aug. 28, 1945 2,429,770 Popp Oct. 28, 1947 2,451,466 Bentley Oct. 19, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 360,220 France Apr. 17, 1906 675,422 Germany May 9, 1939 

